Piotr Lisek jumps for the eighth time in Cottbus

Polish pole vaulter Piotr Lisek is a great example of how the Cottbus Jump-Meeting's feel-good approach has found the right formula. He will compete for the eighth time in the LausitzArena. And why? "Cottbus is something special to me. I feel well taken care of by the meeting team, and the spectators give me wings."

He first participated on January 27, 2016, finishing in fifth place with a jump of 5.60m. Just a year later, he set a new record for the meeting with 5.92m, a record that still stands today. During this time, Lisek also rose to international success, winning ten medals at international championships since 2015.

He has many personal memories tied to Cottbus: "I will never forget how wonderfully Cottbus congratulated me when my first child was born. These are beautiful memories." At that time, he received a onesie with the Jump-Meeting logo as a gift.

Even when things didn't go so well, Piotr Lisek always felt welcome in Cottbus. In 2020, the crowd cheered for him when he injured himself during warm-up and couldn’t compete. "Together, we’ve experienced so much. I always feel that Cottbus stands by me—whether I’m at the top or not doing so well. That’s why it’s so important for me to keep coming back to Cottbus, because I love being part of this wonderful, shared history."

For his eighth Jump-Meeting, the 32-year-old is preparing well but is cautious with predictions: "Of course, I want to jump high, and a lot is possible in Cottbus. I know the audience will give everything again and will be hoarse from cheering – just like I will," says the Pole, who is known for his primal scream before every jump.